Changki-Tai Ahom Cultural Connect unveils ‘Testament of Friendship’ monolith, reaffirming centuries-old bonds between Ao Naga and Tai Ahom communities.
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DIMAPUR — The “Testament of Friendship” monolith was inaugurated in Changki, Mokokchung, on Tuesday during the second day of the Changki–Tai Ahom Cultural Connect.
According to an update, the monument was unveiled by the Prince of Tai Ahom, Rajkumar Alok Narayan Singha, symbolising the bond between the Ao Naga community of Changki, Longjemdang, and the Tai Ahom people.
In his solidarity message, MLA Temjenmenba Pongen, Advisor for Transport and Technical Education, highlighted stories of trust and friendship passed down by elders. He recalled how a Tai Ahom king once gifted two boatloads of salt—a rare and precious commodity—to the Changki villagers.
“Trust and friendship can only be earned,” he said. “The very fact that the Ahom King took shelter in Changki shows the trust he had in the Changki people.”
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Pongen expressed gratitude to the forefathers for nurturing such trust, remarking, “We can change friends, but we cannot change neighbours. In this context, today’s historic event between the Tai Ahoms and the Changki people is deeply significant. We are writing a new chapter of our friendship today.”
He urged both communities to act as “ambassadors of peace” and strengthen ties for generations to come.
Speaking on behalf of the Tai Ahom community, Prince Rajkumar Alok Narayan Singha affirmed the special place of the Ao Nagas in Tai Ahom history.
“Our two communities have largely lived in peaceful harmony with no record of major conflict,” he noted, highlighting marital, economic, and cultural exchanges that deepened the relationship.
“It is now our collective responsibility to carry this legacy of unity forward,” he said, adding that Changki would stand as a witness to the enduring bond between the two communities.
Earlier, in his address, Ao Senden President Marsanen Imsong stated that the event was not about rewriting history but about reclaiming it. He described Changki as a historic gateway between the Naga Hills and the plains, recalling centuries of relations rooted in shelter, trade, and matrimonial ties.
“Our history is written not merely in ink, but in blood and matrimonial ties,” he emphasised, adding that unity does not demand loss of identity but thrives on mutual respect and cooperation.
He also called for transforming "disputed fields" into "prosperity zones", urging younger generations to focus on joint commerce, education, and technology rather than suspicion or division.
C Imo Walling, president, Jangpetkong Senso Mungdang, recalled the centuries-old shared history between the Ao Naga and Tai Ahom people, strengthened through marriages, mutual refuge, and support. He made a heartfelt appeal for unity, peace, and respect, urging that the stories of cooperation and trust lived by the forefathers be passed on to the younger generation.
The day’s programme also included cultural presentations by the Society for Tai Ahom Resurgence (STAR) and Changki Watsu Telok, a song about the first woman to marry a non-Changki, Masemnaro, who married a man from Mopungchuket, Yimendong.
Moreover, historical overviews of the historical relationship between the Ahom and the Ao Naga by Padma Shri awardee Prof. Jogendra Nath Phukan.
Later in the afternoon, a seminar titled ‘A conversation on relationships between Tai Ahom and Changki (Ao Naga)’ was held at Orija Salang, with Tai scholars and community representatives discussing social and trade relations in contemporary contexts. The Changki, Longjemdang and Tai Ahom leaders made a commitment to further this friendship by organising a 'cultural exchange programme' in the future.
The cultural connect will conclude on February 11 with a trek to the Tai Ahom King Swargado Gadadhar Singha’s shelter site at Tzusasa, Changki.